changing res to 1280x800?
 

hi, i have installed knoppix on to my hard drive, since debian installer i find too cryptic for a linux newbie.. i'm trying to setup a 1280x800 resolution (my laptop native, which is a Emachines M5410).. i'm using a SiS M760 Ultra 256 if that helps.. can someone point me to the right directions? i have already done extensive search online, and all points me to editing the XF86Config-4 file.. however, with adding to ModeLines and into Screen->Display section yield no result, i thought i'd ask here if some debian users have any similer problems and how they solve it.. thanks alot :D

What is very important is getting the correct horizontal and vertical sync rates for the display which will be available either in the manual or from the manufacturer's website. The Debian method of reconfiguring the X server is done uisng the command dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xfree86. I believe that if you have done manual editing of the XF86Config-4 that this no longer works. If you get the correct values as above then you should be able to get the desired display size. I know in my own case I get better and bigger display sizes than I do with M$.

you have to add the new resolution before the other modes in the screen section:
so the line has to be:
Modes "1280x800" "1280x768" "800x600"
or whatever modes you want to use. The first *working* line is used at startup, you can cycle them using Ctrl+Num+ and Ctrl+Num-
Try using those keys to access your mode before reordering them, if you can't access it, your modeline is possibly incorrect, see /var/log/XFree86.0.log

in knoppix, there are two commands:
ddcxinfo and ddcxinfo-knoppix, you can try those with parameter -modelines, the knoppix variant gives default vesa modes if the monitor doesn't support ddc flags.

hth,
Flo

I have previously posted a fix here: changing resolution (not screen size)

DANGER, WILL ROBINSON !!

ModeLine blah, blah, blah

This *IS* the ultimate way to fix things, *BUT* if you give the wrong ones for your card &/or monitor, you can damge or destroy either or both.

Not every time automatically, you understand, but there *MAY* be some combinations that will do this, so Get The Data For Your Hardware before using the God-like power of ModeLine, and end up hitting the "kaboom switch", as Epson so long age phrased it. (And I still have the FX-80 & manual to prove it.)

And I like to start grub/lilo in textmode, then start linux at runlevel:3 (multi-user text, then startx to get to the gui, thus x-probs can't down the computer.

Just a couple of thoughts...

And do post that data like IsaacKuo suggested.

Luck!,

should be no prob with the above modeline, as it is created for 60Hz for use with a dfp. those can't "explode" as easyly as crts...

but keep the (generally sensible) tips of robert in mind if you start experimenting...

emachines M5410
 

I can tell you that in Ubuntu, the default Xorg.conf file uses the wrong driver.

If you switch the line that says:

Driver "vesa"

to

Driver "sis"

Then it'll use the right driver, and you can use the GUI interface to chose the right resolution. (It seems to ignore the 1200x800 option set in the xorg.conf file, and presented a full range of appropriate resolutions anyhow.)

I hope that's usefull for other people trying to get 1200x800 resolution working on M5410's.

While I'm at it, I may as well tell you that enabling the speakers on the laptop can be done through the volume control panel: Go into preferences, and enable the setting for "External Amplifier". You'll then find it visible under "switches". If you uncheck this box, (and then turn up the volume!!!!) you'll hear sound.

Cheers

please give more details on switching this driver? i'm running a live version of kunbuntu right now and everything is huge! want to be sure i can adjust this before installing....

BTW i am VERY new with linux.